Iraq - military question: where are the insurgents and others getting their weapons?

Question

Shouldn't we determine the source of the supply, and terminate that source?

Answer 1

1. Iran, Syria and possibly Russia or China!!
2. YES!!

Answer 2

The insurgency is being supported from outside sources. Namely Iran and Syria. I do not believe that we should attack these countries. The best course is too increase troop strength, then task these troops with protecting the borders in Iraq. The primary goal of our troops should be to interdict personnel and supplies flowing into Iraq while continuing training of new Iraqi divisions. The Iraqis should be immediately tasked with the internal security of their nation. By interdicting and removing support the insurgency and sectarian violence can be reduced and eventually eliminated. Our presence in Iraq should not be open ended. At some point they must stand on their own, but in the meantime we need to attack the root causes which allow the insurgents and sectarians to continue the unrest.

antmanbee: Actually I believe you are both wrong and right. If we continue to fight in the same way as we have to this point you are correct there is no way we could secure the borders and continue to provide internal security even with a troop increase. However, I do not advocate securing Baghdad or any other area of Iraq. I think it is high time that the Iraqis start to take full responsibilty for their own internal security. Our troops should move to border control operations. The only interaction with the Iraqi army should be training. We cannot stay in Iraq with a large troop strength indefinitely, it is time for the Iraqis to toe the line for the sake of their own future. If they are unwilling to undertake this basic duty of any nation regarding protecting it's citizens then we should withdraw and leave them to succeed or fail as they will.

Answer 3

1. The largest so far: Left over from Saddam's army. Tons and tons of them. Enough to fully arm both sides for years to come: both the insurgents and the new Iraqi Army. Have you noticed many of the Iraqi troops and police carrying AK-47's rather than M-16's? US authorities are well aware of this source but how to locate them all is another issue. US troops have found some though, hence the arming of the American-sponsored new Iraqi Army with those weapons.

2. Some are from other countries, as many have pointed out to you in their answers. As one also pointed out, the US couldn't even control one city, the capital of the country Baghdad, much less hundreds of miles of border with Iran and Syria. Remember the effort to seal the borders of South Vietnam with Laos and Cambodia to prevent arms and troops from Northern Vietnam infiltrating through those countries? Half a million American troops and over a million South Vietnamese troops couldn't do it then so does anyone think 130,000 US troops and a few thousand green Iraqi troops can do it now?

3. Taken from Iraqi troops and Police: Insurgents sometimes dress up as Iraqui government troops or policemen, set up road blocks or walked into government installations to kidnap soldiers, policemen, officials, government workers and confiscate the weapons they find there. Sometimes, when they ambush US convoys, they also carry away the weapons that had not been destroyed in the battle. Hence, you probably have seen video footage of insurgents carrying US weapons!

The problem isn't easy to solve. Otherwise the US military would have done it long ago!

Answer 4

the priority is that many of the human beings doing the scuffling with their are literally not scuffling with for democracy. they're scuffling with to attain administration for his or her sect. Terrorist will win. Iran might want to in all likelihood emerge victor. Iraqi Democracy seriously is not instated if the U. S. does not help it alongside. If the U. S. pulled out it would want to look like a defeat. this may merely embolden extra zealous fighter's for terrorism. Iraq would not desire extra. ultimately, terrorism received't and in no way will be defeated. Sectarian feuds were waged for most centuries. it received't merely disappear if Iraq turns into Democratic. the U. S. received't "win" something contained in the fast while period. the really way the U. S. will win is 10 or so years down the line even as human beings ultimately see that progression has been made. inspite of the indisputable fact that sectarian violence has strongly challenged that idea. it truly is exactly what the terrorists favor to take position. reason a lot bloodshed that the yankee human beings will go away Iraq. Terrorists do not fee lifelike the U. S. does. And this is confusing to wrestle an enemy who hides interior of this is citizen's. the military is likewise confronted with a huge project of performing interior of a police function. Armies are literally not educated for that. they're educated for wrestle. not as peace officials.

Answer 5

..Syria, Iran, and others. Iraq is a VERY big place. Maybe we can get the Iraqi army to close / police the borders? Then maybe we can leave. Only then when they can secure their own country can we leave. We do know the sources, yet we cannot take on other countries at the current time.

Answer 6

Syria give weapons to the Sunni Iraq rebels, and Iran give weapons to the sh ii Iraq extremist

Answer 7

Iran is arming the shittes the US has known that for a long time.

Answer 8

They are producing them in makeshift underground weapons factories:):):)

Iran perhaps.....

Iraqi army leftovers.....

We having trouble securing Baghdad.
No way we have enough people to secure border.
So forget about that solution.

Answer 9

Probably from US arms dealers. Remember the Iran Iraq war when reagan was selling to both sides!!!!

Answer 10

Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Israel......

Can't eliminate all the countries in the Middle East to stop the can of worms opened by the Bush Administration.